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News and Views
Haunted Mansion Holiday IV
The Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction is open for the fourth year at Disneyland. Attendees at a merchandise special event last Wednesday and Thursday were the first to see the latest incarnation of the overlay, before it opened to the public on Friday.
The Mansion beckons park guests with its glow of eerie orange. Disneyland’s
Haunted Mansion has reopened for the fall with its latest Nightmare
Before Christmas overlay. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
While the overlay is always a treat for Nightmare fans, some
were disapointed that there were no major changes to the attraction this
year. A rumored animatronic Sally materialized only in the Tokyo version.
Disneyland’s ride is pretty much the same as last year, with many of the
the Oogie Boogie elements from the 2003 version making a repeat appearance.
Doc’s Lab Lob is one of the five games offered to participants in the
Haunted Mansion Holiday special event. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Many believe that this may be the last year that Disneyland holds a
merchandise special event for the Haunted Mansion Holiday ride, and a
few repeat attendees expressed relief that Disney was calling it quits.
“It feels like they just stopped trying this year. They’ve run out
of ideas,” said one. Others complained about an overall lack of organization,
with many standing in an hour-long line just to pick up their event ticket,
or receiving conflicting instructions on how to enter the event venue.
Jack and Sally standing on the mansion balcony. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Many felt that the event merchandise was uninspired, especially compared
to the already-announced products created for the Walt Disney World’s
Haunted Mansion event held later this month. To be sure, the core merchandise
offered for the Haunted Mansion Holiday attraction has been scaled back
quite a bit from previous years, with a single design for adult T-shirts
and sweatshirts, no children’s apparel, and very little in the way of
logo merchandise. Le Bat en Rouge is again the headquarters store for
the attraction, but quite a bit of the merchandise is generic Nightmare
product available at Hot Topic and Suncoast stores across the country.
The Mark Twain makes a ghostly evening appearance amid artificial
fog for the special event. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Despite disapointments in the merchandise offering and frustration over
organizational details, many people praised the event planners for the
food and event gifts. In place of the sit-down dinner from the past few
events, Disney hosted an hors d’oeuvre buffet. Guests were pleasantly
surprised to discover that the buffet included heartier fare than the
name would imply, and offered a decent selection for vegetarians. Even
after the attendees with the lower-priced tickets were admitted into the
event, a large staff circulated through the crowds with trays of baked
goods and desserts. Guests with the three higher-priced packages received
a porcelain lamp as a pre-event gift, and all attendees went home with
a small wooden chest, each with a set of Nightmare pins tucked
inside its drawers.
Christopher Radko (left) poses for a photo with an event guest during
the Haunted Mansion Holiday special event. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Federal weapons ban expires, gun returns to Jungle Cruise boats
In a matter of pure coincidence, the fake pistol has returned to the
Jungle Cruise less than three weeks after Congress failed to renew the
Federal assault weapons ban.
For many decades, Jungle Cruise skippers used to fire warning shots at
the hippos during the ride as part of their routine. In 2001, however,
an effort to make park attractions more politically correct led to the
halt in the sale of toy guns, as well as to the disarming of skippers.
No official explanation was cited for the return of the popular feature,
but MousePad discussion board member DJ Mentos reported that the back
of the boat burst into applause during the hippo scene. “They obviously
had missed that effect, like me. But it’s back for all of us to enjoy,”
he said.
French Market dish
The French Market in New Orleans Square has added a couple of items to the menu for the holiday season to match Haunted Mansion. Sally’s Eye of Newt Marinara, a vegetable baked pasta dish with marinara sauce, is $11.99 and Zero’s Bowl O’ Bones, pork ribs and chicken legs with french fries, is $12.99. Both dishes are served in a souvenir Zero dog bowl. A Zero hot mug is also available for $4.69.
The two Haunted Mansion Holiday themed meals at French Market. Photo by Adrienne Krock.
Swim—and parade—with the stars
This Tuesday, three members of the U.S. Olympic swim team—Ian Crocker,
Lenny Krayzelburg and Michael Phelps—appear at Disneyland in their
final stop of the Swim with the Stars tour. The trio will participate
in a “swim meet” in a specially built pool on Main Street, U.S.A.
Disneyland opens at 10 am on Tuesday, and visitors wanting to see the events
should plan to arrive by 9:30 am when the main gates open. A Disneyland
representative says there will be limited seating along the pool, and
seating is first-come, first-served. If you don’t snag a seat poolside,
watch for the swimmers to participate in “cavalcade” processions
between the “it’s a small world” parade gate and the pool before
and after the meet.
And even more store closures
Tropical Imports, currently an Adventureland souvenir shop, may become
a food location. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
A MousePlanet reader alerted us that the Tropical Imports store in Adventureland
is now closed, and said that the Foods department has plans to set up
shop inside the former store location, replacing the existing fruit cart
next to Aladdin’s Oasis. The rubber snakes and disposable cameras once
sold at Tropical Imports would be offered from a merchandise cart set
up in place of the fruit cart.
New Century Timepieces, a staple on Main Street, is now closed in the mornings.
Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
We have confirmed that New Century Timepiece is another location with a delayed noon opening time. Cast members at the Disney Gallery were reportedly frustrated that their management would not open that location the morning of last week’s Haunted Mansion merchandise event. Several event guests complained because the shop, which still features a Haunted Mansion exhibit and offers related merchandise, was not open when there were so many Haunted Mansion collectors on property for the event.
A chain across the front of the steps keeps guests from visiting to the
Disney Gallery, while dozens of Haunted Mansion collectors are in line
to shop at Le Bat en Rouge. Photo by Adrienne Vincent-Phoenix.
Ears to the ground
…Tickets for Chip & Dale’s Wild Wild West Pin Adventure go
on sale October 13. The event is February 3, 2005. For more information,
visit the Disney Gallery Web site (link).
Got any interesting news or rumors? Contact us
here.
Current Refurbishments and Attraction Closures
Disneyland
Note: Disneyland is progressively closing more and more attractions as the park readies for its 50th anniversary celebration in 2005.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
closed through November 23.
Sleeping Beauty Castle
closed through November 23.
Sailing Ship Columbia
closed through November 30.
Fantasmic
on hiatus through November during the
Sailing Ship Columbia
refurbishment.
Aladdin’s Oasis
closed through March 11, 2005.
Plaza Pavilion
closed through March 11, 2005.
Enchanted Tiki Room
closed through March 11, 2005.
Space Mountain
closed through November 2005.
Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through
closed indefinitely; not listed on park maps or the Disneyland Web site.
Upcoming Disneyland closures
Jungle Cruise
closes October 11–15.
“it’s a small world”
closes October 18 – November 4.
Haunted Mansion
closes January 10–25, 2005 to remove Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay.
Disney’s California Adventure
Upcoming DCA Closures
Maliboomer
reduced capacity (2 of 3 towers operating) November 1–25, 2004, and January 3–22, 31 – March 12, 2005.
Jumpin’ Jellyfish
reduces capacity January 21 – March 5, 2005.
